BASICS Project
Lesson Plan
Class: Primary 2
Date: 3rd May 2007
Topic: Absorbency of paper
Week no: 4
(What is the best paper to use to mop up water?)
Learning outcomes: the children will have opportunities toScience
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Investigate the properties of different types of paper, beginning to notice
similarities and differences.
Appreciate the concept of absorbency by planning and carrying out a towel
test using different types of paper.
Recognise that some materials exist naturally and some are manufactured
and processed, e.g. paper.
Literacy
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Listen to and watch the story entitled ‘Puddle Trouble’ on the Discovery Dog
DVD.
Plan a scientific investigation by taking part in a shared writing experience
with the whole class.
Watch a video outlining the paper making process and complete a simple cut
and sticky activity related to the concept.
Listen to two short poems written about the different uses of paper.
The aspects of science enquiry (Planning, Obtaining and presenting evidence,
Considering evidence and evaluating) addressed in this lesson are,
Planning
Obtaining &
presenting
evidence
Evaluating
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During this lesson the children will be provided with an opportunity to plan an
investigation, to test the absorbency of different types of paper. The class
will be encouraged to predict the outcome of the investigation and complete
the Discovery Dog planning poster.
The children will test different types of paper, in order to find out which
paper is best for mopping up Naughty Nora’s mess. These P2 children have
already been introduced to the concept of fair testing. I will develop this
concept by allowing the children to suggest the appropriate amount of water
they should put on each type of paper, in order to make the test fair.
Moreover, I will prompt the children into recognising that the sizes of paper
tested, must be kept the same in order to make the test fair.
The children will be provided with a pre-drawn recording sheet so they can
present their findings.
In order to conclude the lesson children will be provided with an opportunity
to evaluate what they have discovered and say whether what happened was
what they expected.
Introduction:
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Introduce Naughty Nora to the class.
intentions for this lesson with the class.
At this stage share the learning
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Show the story entitled ‘Puddle Trouble’ on the Discovery Dog DVD using the
Interactive Whiteboard.
Talk to the children about the properties of paper, using a range of
information books (these books are referenced in the following resource list). Discuss how
many things are made from paper, e.g. newspaper, kitchen roll, wallpaper, etc.
Allow the children to provide more examples of things that are made from
paper.
Resources:
– Interactive Whiteboard.
– Lancashire County Council (2006) Discovery Dog DVD (1). Devised and created
by Atkinson, P., Blacklock, K., Childe, J. and Eccles, D.
– Naughty Nora puppet
– Discovery Dog planning poster
– Pre-drawn recording sheet (x 30)
- Different types of paper, e.g. newspaper, wrapping paper, writing paper, brown
paper, greaseproof paper, tinfoil and kitchen roll
- Beaker with water and pipette
- Information Books –
 Oxlade, C. (2002) Materials: Paper. Heinemann.
 Edwards, N. and Harris, J. (1999) Science Explorers: Paper – Exploring
the Science of everyday materials. Black Publishers Limited.
 Wallace, H. (2006) How we use materials: Paper. Hachette Children’s
Books.
- Copies of paper poems;
 Williams, B. (2000) Trees. Heinemann.
 Eames, S. (2000) Paper. Heinemann.
These poems are taken from Bishop, J. (1990) (Ed.) Bright ideas for early years: Science activities.
Leamington Spa: Scholastic Publications.
- Video player, television and copy of video entitled ‘Come outside with Auntie
Mabel and Pippin, Natural Materials: Paper’;
 BBC (1998) Come outside with Auntie Mabel and Pippin, Natural
Materials: Paper. BBC School Programmes.
Development:
- Recap Discovery Dog’s problem that was presented in the DVD.
- Allow the children to plan the investigation, using the enlarged planning
poster linked with the Discovery Dog DVD. Provide children with enough time to
consider what they need to investigate.
- After planning, allow the children to test different types of paper – have
these cut to the correct size. While the children are carrying out the
investigation encourage children to use descriptive words to describe what is
happening and what they are discovering.
- Whilst carrying out the investigation, children will record their
observations/findings using a pre-drawn recording table. This recording sheet
will involve ticking a smiley or sad face.
- After each child has had an opportunity to complete the investigation, read
the two poems relating to the different uses of paper (these poems are fully
referenced in the resource list).
- Discuss with the children how paper is made. Provide the children with a short
cut and stick task sheet.
- In order to conclude the lesson, the class will watch a BBC video production on
the paper making process (this is fully referenced in the resource list).
- After watching the video, discuss with the children what they liked the best
and what they liked least, about the lesson.
Activities:
- Listen to and watch the story entitled ‘Puddle Trouble’ on the Discovery Dog
DVD (1) (this is fully referenced in the resource list).
- Discuss the different properties of paper by referring to a range of
information books.
- Use the Discovery Dog planning poster to plan the investigation collaboratively
with the whole-class.
- Undertake an investigation and test different types of paper, using
appropriate equipment, e.g. water and dropper pipette.
- Record observations, by completing a simple pre-drawn recording sheet.
- Complete a matching activity related to the paper making process.
- Watch a video outlining the paper making process (this is fully referenced in the
resource list) and discuss what they liked and disliked about the lesson.
Classroom organisation
- When watching the DVD the children will sit in their seats at their desks.
- When planning the investigation using the Discovery Dog poster children will
sit on the carpet area.
- Each child will have an opportunity to carry out the investigation.
- Children will complete the matching activity relating the paper making process
at their desks.
- Pupils will move to the carpet area when watching the Video related to this
concept.
Key Vocabulary:
- Words relating to science aspect: absorb, dry up, soak up, manufactured, manmade, natural.
- Words relating to literacy aspect: rhyme, rhythm, poetry, sequence, cut and
stick, match.
Key Questions:
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Can anyone tell/remind me what we did last Thursday?
How are we going to help Discovery Dog?
What problem does Discovery Dog have?
What do you notice about this poem? Does it rhyme?
How are we going to carry out this investigation?
- What materials do we need?
- What does the phrase ‘fair test’ mean?
- How do you think paper is made?
- Is paper a valuable resource?
- Which activity did you enjoy best today?
Science enquiry skills developed
- During this lesson the children will be provided with an opportunity to plan an
investigation to test the absorbency of paper, with support from the teacher.
The class will be encouraged to predict the outcome of the investigation.
- Children will be provided with an opportinity to record their findings using a
pre-drawn table.
- Children will carry out an investigation in order to obtain information about
the absorbency of different types of paper.
- Pupils will evaluate what they had achieved at the end of lesson.
Evidenced by
- Pupil’s ability to pose and answer questions orally about the investigation
being carried out.
- Ability to use resources correctly and make observations/comparisons.
- Ability to complete pre-drawn science recording sheet by ticking a smiley or
sad face.
- Can the children comment on their findings, recognising that paper is a
useful resource?
Literacy skills developed
- Ability to work as a team in order to plan a scientific investigation (shared
writing).
- Discuss the paper making process and recognise that there are various
steps/stages in the process.
- Listen to two short poems written about the different uses of paper and
develop their understanding that some poems rhyme, while others don’t.
Evidenced by
- Pupils’ ability to ask constructive questions related to the Discovery Dog DVD
and the poems relating to the different uses of paper.
- Children’s ability to use describing words when discussing what they have
achieved/discovered as a result of this lesson.
- Children’s ability to offer some more examples of what paper is used for.
Lesson Evaluation
What worked? How do I know?
- Using the Discovery Dog DVD and the puppet worked really well. When I used
the puppet the children were intrinsically motivated and very engrossed with
what was taking place.
- The autistic child was particularly noticeable – he sat back and listened very
carefully and began to talk to the puppet instead of answering me! Moreover,
the child with ADHD was very well behaved.
- Planning collaboratively as a class, using the Discovery Dog poster worked well.
All the children contributed and were very eager to take part.
What would I need to change for the next time?
- I feel that I need to work with the whole class. This is essential, as wholeclass interactive teaching would allow for more discussion.
- In order to become more effective I need to plan a good structured conclusion
by bringing the whole class together again and going over and reviewing with the
children what they have discovered. I must also refer to the Literacy aspect
(i.e. the story).
How did the pupils respond to the Literacy aspects of the lesson?
- The children loved the Discovery Dog DVD. The story entitled ‘Puddle Trouble’
enlisted the help of the class to help Discovery Dog find the most appropriate
material to mop up Naughty Nora’s mess.
- The children could relate easily to the scenario, as many children explained
that they often spilt things in the kitchen at home and needed to find something
quickly to mop it up.
- Reading the poems and allowing the children to watch the video relating to the
paper making process worked well. The children were very eager to complete
the matching activity relating to the paper making process.
How did the pupils respond to the Science enquiry aspects of the
lesson?
- The pupils responded positively to the Science enquiry aspects present within
this lesson. Deciding to carry out collaborative planning, using the Discovery
Dog poster was an excellent idea. The children enjoyed testing different types
of paper and completing their pre-drawn tables in order to find out which type
of paper Discovery Dog should use.
- While planning it became evident that these children do need help when
predicting.
How did the Literacy and Science support each other?
- The DVD introduced the science concept of absorbency. Therefore, the DVD
supported the science investigation, whereby the children had to find out which
type of paper would be best for Discovery Dog to use, to clean up Naughty
Nora’s mess.
- The poem, the video and the matching activity were all linked to the concept
being taught.
Pupils’ Comments (Please ask the pupils)
What did the pupils enjoy most in the lesson?
The class stated that they enjoyed testing the different types of paper.
Individual comments included;
 “I often spill things in the kitchen at home and now I know never to use a
plastic bag to wipe it up!” – “Like Naughty Nora”.
 “Kitchen roll was good because it was thick and so it soaks up the water”.
 “The DVD was fun” – “I like Discovery Dog!”
 “Hearing Naughty Nora speak on the DVD was so funny!”
Why?
The children explained that testing different types of paper was exciting; as
they were eager to help Discovery Dog clean up Naughty Nora’s mess!
What did the pupils enjoy least in the lesson?
Some of the pupils would have liked longer testing the papers.
One child stated that he didn’t like testing the tissue paper “because it always
ripped”.
Why?
The children told me how they love the water and liked testing the different
types of papers, but they would have liked to have more time to work with the
water!